
Murals, sculptures, decorative paving, and memorials can all be ways of enhancing trails with art.
A photo gallery of murals, sculptures, decorative paving, and memorials.
by Stuart Macdonald, Trail Consultant, American Trails
Art can celebrate history, as sculptures at National Historic Trail sites. Art can also add richness to the historic elements that have been preserved along with trail corridors. Images of former railroads and the urban past have inspired art along rail trails. Some trails wind through industrial areas where murals add interest to walls and bridges. Art can also bring an element of surprise and unexpected elements along the trail route. Art can be a way of involving more of the community in trails, and schools have also taken on an artistic project for a greenway. Here are some selections from the wide variety of artistic installations on trails across America.
Murals of local history line the Downtown Lakewalk in Duluth, Minnesota, a rails with trail project.
Sculpture on the Mary Carter Greenway along the Platte River, South Suburban Park District, Littleton, Colorado.
Ogden Nature Center’s annual exhibition of artistic birdhouses along its trail system in Ogden, Utah
Salmon sculpture called “Leaper” by Tom Jay, 2003, along Riverside Park trail in Mount Vernon, Washington.
Published August 2018
September 11th National Memorial Trail to Offer Interactive Map
posted Sep 11, 2021
The September 11th National Memorial Trail is a 1,300-mile system of trails and roadways that link the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Art Ports Allow More Options for Public Art
posted May 18, 2021
This new products proposes infrastructural necessities of public art be decoupled from the work, and instead be a part of the Active Transportation landscape. This manifests in flexible, reusable, foundational footings designed with temporary and permanent public art opportunities in mind.
posted Nov 5, 2020
A presentation by Owen Worozbyt, Trail and Environmental Program Officer of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.
Santa Rosa Public Art Master Plan
posted Aug 18, 2020
The Plan describes what the Public Art Program’s priorities should be. The Public Art Program will catalyze new projects, provide guidance to projects undertaken by developers and others, and continue community outreach and education around public art.